Meet the PDR Flores y Rodriguez CVR Maduro Figurado - a 6½" x 52 box-pressed perfecto that punches above its $17 per stick price point. This Dominican puro combines a 7-year-aged Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper with Nicaraguan and Ecuadorian binders, delivering medium-full strength that sneaks up on you like a tropical storm. Perfect for after-dinner sessions when you want something substantial but not overwhelming.
The cold draw hits with raisin sweetness and barnyard earthiness. Initial puffs deliver black coffee bitterness balanced by molasses - like drinking espresso with burnt caramel rimming the cup. Smoke production starts modest but builds steadily.
At the 1" burn line, flavors shift gears hard. Cedar planks and roasted cashews emerge through the aroma, while the retrohale introduces white pepper that makes your sinuses tingle. The ash holds strong for 2" despite the tapered shape.
Past the midpoint, the nicotine kicks in - not knockout strength but enough to make you pace your draws. Leather and dark chocolate dominate as the smoke thickens. I usually nub cigars but this one gets bitter past the last inch, better to quit while you're ahead.
Abe Flores' Dominican factory uses "double fermentation" on the Connecticut wrapper - barrel-aging before blending. This technique amps up the maduro's natural sweetness while keeping pH levels balanced. The 7-year aging claim checks out based on the wrapper's oily sheen and absence of ammonia bite.
Skip the sugary drinks. This cigar shines with:
